TheMarvel Cinematic Universehas grown a lot in fifteen years. By the end of 2008, the only heroes in the franchise with Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, and Nick Fury. Now the franchise is filled with characters from the comics. Marvel mainstays like The Avengers,obscure characters introduced in the 1970slike Shang-Chi and the Eternals, and relatively new characters like Ms. Marvel and Ironheart all now co-exist in this ever-growing franchise. It doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon either, with new developments in the franchise arriving every day.
Anyone who has ever read a comic book or even ever talked about superheroes knows one of the first questions that pops up is who would win in a fight. Or who is the strongest hero? Here are the 20 strongest heroes in the franchise. Note that the only thing being taken into account is their film appearances, not their comic book counterparts.
Update June 22, 2025: This article has been updated by Soniya Hinduja to reflect the MCU better as it exists now.
20Ancient One
Appearing as the Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj inDoctor Strange, theAncient Onewas portrayed byTilda Swinton. She was the mystical guardian of Earth and the leader of the Masters of the Mystic Arts. She played a pivotal role in introducing Stephen Strange to the world of magic and overlooked his transformation to a master sorcerer. Ancient One’s presence as someone who had been protecting the world from dangers beyond common comprehension anchored Phase 3 of the MCU greatly.
While the Ancient One did not possess a huge physique or durability, her strength was in her vast knowledge and mastery of the mystic arts. Easily one of the strongest superheroes in the MCU, she used powerful spells, manipulated time with the Eye of Agamotto, and she could even astral project. In the MCU, she fought Kaecilius and Dormammu, and her ability to foresee multiple futures led her to help the Avengers in undoing Thanos’ snap.
The lovable Flora colossus has had a tremendous and endearing arc in the MCU. Voiced byVin Diesel,Grootmade his debut in 2014’sGuardians of the Galaxyas the walking, talking tree who worked as a bounty hunter alongside Rocket Racoon. His vocabulary has always been limited to just the three words “I am Groot,” but his wooden exterior and penchant for sacrifice make him immensely strong. He went from being a towering tree to a tiny sapling and back to a formidable warrior.
Groot’s strength is the most unique of all the superheroes in the MCU. He has the ability to regenerate and grow in size, and he is also physically powerful, both of which make him versatile in combat. Groot has showcased his willingness and heroic acts in battles against foes like Ronan the Accuser and Thanos’ army. Hisfinal transformation to Swoll GrootinGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3is perhaps the most memorable in establishing him as a defender of the galaxy.
18Star-Lord
In the spirit ofGuardians of the Galaxy, another superhero worth a spot on the list is Peter Quill, akaStar-Lord. Portrayed byChris Pratt, he burst onto the scene as a child abducted from Earth. Quill grew up among the Ravagers and became a legendary outlaw. His discovery of the Orb in the 2014 film kick-started his adventurous journey in the MCU, and he eventually became a central figure in the MCU’s cosmic narrative.
As for Star-Lord’s strength, he possesses a blend of Celestial heritage and human ingenuity. While he may not be a traditional superhero with powers of flight or immeasurable brute strength, Star-Lord has interesting combat skills, and a strategic mind, and he’s quite skilled at advanced technology and manipulating cosmic light. Quill has faced off against powerful adversaries like Ronan and Thanos, has withstood direct attacks from Gamora, and was able to harness energy from the Power Stone, which makes him strong and compelling.
17Black Widow
Introduced inIron Man 2, Natasha Romanoff, also known asBlack Widow, played both sides against the middle. She was formerly an assassin for the KGB, who left her shadowy past behind and took a more heroic path by turning into a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. She was one of the organization’s most trusted operatives and often used her intelligence and skill to glue the team together. Her role, particularly inThe AvengersandAvengers: Endgame, was remarkable.
More than a match physically for even the most talented superheroes, Black Widowboasts an unparalleled set of combat skills. She is also a highly trained master of espionage. Having survived all sorts of evils, from aliens and robots to super soldiers and more, from Loki and Ultron to the Winter Soldier and Thanos, every battle has highlighted her precision as a martial artist, acrobat, and marksman. Black Widow is living proof that strength is not just physical but also emotional.
16Winter Soldier
He wasn’t always theWinter Soldier. James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes, portrayed bySebastian Stan, made his first appearance inCaptain America: The First Avengeras Steve Rogers’ best friend. After being assumed dead as a soldier at war, his resurrection as the brainwashed assassin inCaptain America: The Winter Soldieradded layers of complexity to the character. Having had his memory wiped and becoming the most wanted man in the world, there was a point in the MCU where the Winter Soldier was an unstoppable killing machine.
As the Winter Soldier, his powers include super-soldier serum-enhanced abilities and resilience similar to those of Captain America. He also possessed super speed, was given a cybernetic arm by HYDRA, and trained as an assassin, which made his fighting skills deadlier than ever. Bucky fought against some of the MCU’s toughest opponents, including Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, and Thanos’ army when it arrived in Wakanda, where he used a new vibranium arm.
15Man-Thing
Introduced in the Disney+ special,Werewolf by Night,Man-Thinghas only gotten a bit of screentime, but his power is already incredible to behold. Originally called Theodore “Ted” Sallis, Man-Thing became a mindless plant-like creature after undergoing a transformation. He’s been captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. and he’s participated in the Grandmaster’s competitions at Sakaar, which means his experience in combat isn’t little.
As for his powers, anyone who feels fear will burn at his touch, as Man-Thing possesses the ability to generate acid. He did so with Joshua Jovan and Verussa Bloodstone, and since all living things feel fear, they are likely to burn and die. Anyone who is not afraid of him, like Jack Russell and Elsa Bloodstone, is fine, and at the end of the day,Man-Thing is a lovable creature. Yet the sheer power he possesses makes him an underrated player in the MCU and one that the Avengers really should consider when Kang the Conqueror arrives.
14Spider-Man
First arriving on screens inCaptain America: Civil War, Peter Parker, akaSpider-Man, is still young and has a lot to learn, but he is still a powerful hero in his own right. Super strength, spider-sense, and wall-crawling, all combined with his intellect allow Spider-Man to be one of the strongest heroes in the MCU. In all his movies so far,Tom Holland’sperformance brought levity and youthfulness and ushered in a new era of Spider-Man tackling and hustling to balance school with saving the world.
One might say he wouldn’t be so resourceful if it weren’t for Stark and the enchantments in his suits make him a little too powerful, butSpider-Man: Homecomingshowed that even without Stark Tech, he is still Spider-Man. He’s taken on villains like Vulture and Mysterio. In his standalone movies, Parker also displayed genius intellect, where he created synthetic webbing; he can carry huge weights, use “Peter Tingle” to dodge bullets and overpower Winter Soldier and his metal arm. While smaller than his peers, Spider-Man continues to prove himself a truly spectacular hero.
13Iron Man
Responsible for kicking off the MCU in 2008 withIron Man, which still holds a special place in the history of the franchise, Tony Stark, akaIron Man, is a man who can imagine anything, so he is prepared for everything. Otherwise an ordinary man, he’s used to facing his demons and uses his scientific intellect to create various armored exoskeletons with powers of flight, repulsor blasts, and epic durability. Stark has suits designed for every occasion, packed with a full arsenal of weapons to subdue any opponent. Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, is a man who can imagine anything, so he is prepared for everything.
Robert Downey Jr.breathed new life into the character. From confronting an escalating war waged by his own weapons to sacrificing himself against Thanos, he came to represent what it means to be accountable as a superhero. The Iron Man suit granted Tony the will and power to exceed baseline humans. And with every movie, he infused cutting-edge technology into it to make the suit better. One might say he is nothing without his suit, but Iron Man 3 showed that even without that, he still has his incredible intellect, which can be just as dangerous as any Iron Man suit.
Was Tony Stark a Villain?
Iron Man’s alter ego, Tony Stark, did some questionable actions across the MCU that paint his heroics in a more sinister light.
12Captain America
Captain Americais the moral backbone of the MCU.He is the heart of the franchise. He is also one of the strongest characters around. It might not seem like much, but when you remember how skinny Steve Rogers was inThe First Avenger, the muscle that the supersoldier serum gave him to bulk up is the same in terms of mass as when Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk. AndChris Evansplayed the character with an old-fashioned courage that balanced out the uncertainties of the modern world.
Captain America has super speed, fast reflexes, can take a lot of hits, and always gets back up, a quality that landed him his famous one-liner, “I can do this all day.” He is also a skilled fighter, and his shield makes him incredibly deadly. It goes to show how strong Captain America is that audiences cheered when he showed up inAvengers: Infinity Warfor the first time. He has battled Loki and his alien army, Ultron, and even Thanos. Even against aliens who possibly have incredible strength, when Captain America is at your back, you feel safe.
11Black Panther
Introduced first inCaptain America: Civil War, T’Challa stepped into the spotlight of his standalone filmBlack Pantheras the ruler of the secretive African nation called Wakanda. He wore a dual identity of a leader and protector, and when entrusted with the power of the Heart-Shaped Herb, T’Challa transformed into a King with incredible strength, reflex, and speed. And as Wakanda opened to the world,Black Pantherworked expertly to protect the vibranium stockpile from those intending to abuse its power.
T’Challa can harness powers that rival Captain America, thanks to his country’s technological advancements. In his suit, which is made entirely of vibranium, Black Panther is indestructible. He went toe to toe with The Winter Soldier and easily held his own in a battle with an alien army. Meanwhile, Shuri fought Namor, one of the most powerful characters in the MCU. Both people who have held the title of Black Panther, T’Challa and Shuri, are equally powerful and are two of the strongest in the MCU.
